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Winemaker's Notes:

Wonderfully fruity, open nose with raspberry - almost jammy - aromas and a background of gentle oak, again supported by a gamy, animal depth. This has fine structure again, with a big, clamping streak of tannins over firm, muscular fruit and again terrific length. Excellent.

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Domaine Jean-Louis Chave:
The Chave family have been involved in wine making in the northern Rhone valley since 1481. Jean-Louis Chave is the current boss and an exponent of organic viticulture.The Domaine is mainly in Hermitage but also operates as a negociant in other AOC's although he has bought some plots inb Saint-Joseph.

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Editorial Reviews for Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage

Whoa, this explodes from the bottle the moment i open it with intense bacon, roast meats and black pepper. We get to this at the end of dinner, served just before the cheese course and by the time the nose has added notes of granite, oolong tea, nilla wafer, ash, dill, and smoked meats. The intensity and purity as well as the complexity in the mouth are fantastic with rich, smoky fruits in classic medium bodied mouthfeel that cannot restrain the flavors, vibrant acidity yet not out of balance coupled with lovely gentle tanins, juicy black raspberry fruit turning a bit more blackberry with time and conveying a sense of bloody, iron richness, the finish is long and retains the fruit of the midpalate with spicy and roasted herbal notes. Compelling stuff and in the context of Chave a steal. For me at least the acidity while high is in balance and the wine closing in on peak drinking. Bravo.

Richly aromatic from the moment this is opened offering up an array of gamy tones to the earthy, blackberry fruit. Integrated in the mouth with the acidity seemingly quite tame in comparison to other bottles. On the cusp of maturity with a rich core of black raspberry and dried cranberry fruit and the acidity pops out a bit on the back end. A very fine, focused wine that lacks the richness of better years but is wonderful when considered on it's own merits. 92pts

Like a new car on the savory nose - leathery with a hint of gasoline and that unidentified yet super recognizable new car smell. Smoother in mouth. A little fruit and some stronger savory notes. Olive? Rubber? Tasty but hard to place.

Wonderfully fruity, open nose with raspberry - almost jammy - aromas and a background of gentle oak, again supported by a gamy, animal depth. This has fine structure again, with a big, clamping streak of tannins over firm, muscular fruit and again terrific length. Excellent.